{"id":109400,"date":"2023-02-24T10:51:50","date_gmt":"2023-02-24T10:51:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/?p=109400"},"modified":"2023-02-24T10:52:40","modified_gmt":"2023-02-24T10:52:40","slug":"hidden-archeological-ruins-in-tranquil-girandurukotte-by-arundathie-abeysinghe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/hidden-archeological-ruins-in-tranquil-girandurukotte-by-arundathie-abeysinghe\/","title":{"rendered":"Hidden archeological ruins in tranquil Girandurukotte – By Arundathie Abeysinghe"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hidden archeological ruins in tranquil Girandurukotte – By Arundathie Abeysinghe<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Hidden<\/p>\n

\"ArundathieLush verdant paddy fields stretching as far as the eye can see\u2026Tree canopies above resembling a storybook setting\u2026 Tranquil and serene lake with birds fluttering above enhanced the picturesque surroundings\u2026 Village life moving at a slow pace\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

Situated approximately 19 kilometers from *Mahiyangana, Girandurukotte is a small agricultural town in *Badulla District of *Uva Province. Populated in the 1980\u2019s due to the Mahaweli Development scheme, this small town is bustling with activity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Almost all the land in Girandurukotte has been utilized for rice cultivation, predominantly an outcome of the Mahaweli Development Project that was implemented to develop agriculture in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. Although, the livelihood of the inhabitants of Girandurukotte is dependent on rice, crops such as maize and finger millet are also grown in private gardens, utilizing a process of crop rotation known as *chena<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Situated off the beaten track and rarely visited by local and foreign tourists, there are archaeological ruins located in conserved remains of a small temple complex. Although, it is an archaeological site, the structure is a stupa<\/em>, yet, there is no description and none could explain its significance. The base of the stupa<\/em> in the Temple Complex has valuable archeological ruins.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to legends, the location has been the place where *King Dutugemunu has assembled his armies before the great battle against the invading South Indian ruler *Elara was carried out. The Temple Complex has been constructed on a rocky terrain. Scholars are of the view that King Dutugemunu would have chosen this location to assemble his troops as it would have been easy to lookout for invading enemies from this strategic location.<\/span><\/p>\n

Scholars are of the view that the Temple Complex is a noteworthy location due to the presence of a panchawasa<\/em> – a temple comprising five main components: a stupa<\/em>, a shrine room, a bodhigara<\/em> (structure of a Bodhi tree), a gathering hall as well as a preaching hall. Archaeologists are of the view that the Complex is one of only two existing panchawasa<\/em> temples in Sri Lanka and is considered as the best example of a gathering hall, ever discovered.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the entrance of the Complex, there are ruins of an exquisitely carved standing Buddha Statue and its height is approximately a meter and a half. Currently, most of the carvings on stones and ruins are not visible. At present, there are stones piled up in ruins which would have once been a part of a tall protective wall which stands up to about 10-metres high in certain places.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Hidden<\/a><\/p>\n

The base of the stupa<\/em> in the Temple Complex is constructed on a square platform enclosed by a brick wall. Three brick steps located within a pair of exquisitely carved balustrades (Korawak Gal<\/em>) represent the mythical *Makara (dragon) at the top and are located on one side to enter the platform. The sides are carved with a lion figure and a pillar exquisitely carved. At the foot of the stairs is a moonstone with a simple carving. There are stone-carved Makara<\/em> figures and water collected on the platform is drained through the mouths of these figure. In front of an ancient building, there are stone pillars. There are also exquisitely carved muragal<\/em> (guard stones) in the Complex.<\/span><\/p>\n

*Ulhitiya Reservoir is also situated in the vicinity of the archeological site.\u00a0 The surface of the reservoir is still with gentle ripples formed by the breeze. The border of *Maduru Oya National Park is adjacent to the Reservoir.<\/span><\/p>\n